Page:Keats - Poetical Works, DeWolfe, 1884.djvu/396

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
380
OTHO THE GREAT.
 Auranthe.As speedilyIt must be done as my bribed woman canUnseen conduct him to me; but I fear'Twill be impossible, while the broad dayComes through the panes with persecuting glare.Methinks, if't now were night I could intrigueWith darkness, bring the stars to second me,And settle all this trouble.
 Conrad.Nonsense! Child!See him immediately; why not now?
 Auranthe. Do you forget that even the senseless door-postsAre on the watch and gape through all the house;How many whisperers there are about,Hungry for evidence to ruin meMen I have spurn'd, and women I have taunted.Besides, the foolish Prince sends, minute whiles,His pages—so they tell me—to inquireAfter my health, entreating, if I please,To see me.
 Conrad. Well, suppose this Albert here;What is your power with him?
 Auranthe. He should beMy echo, my taught parrot! but I fearHe will be cur enough to bark at me;Have his own say; read me some silly creed'Bout shame and pity.
 Conrad. What will you do then?
 Auranthe. What I shall do, I know not; what I would,Cannot be done; for see, this chamber-floorWill not yield to the pick-axe and the spade,—Here is no quiet depth of hollow ground.
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.